Induced molting — deliberately stressing hens to restart egg production — involves practices ranging from feed withdrawal (banned in many countries) to nutritional modification.
The welfare timeline of molting has improved significantly as feed withdrawal has been phased out in major markets, but the practice still involves deliberate stress. Hens undergoing induced molt regardless of method show elevated corticosterone, feather pecking behavior, and reduced activity — behavioral indicators of welfare compromise. The weeks of molt involve physical discomfort as feathers are shed and regrown. Low-sodium and low-nutrient diets used in alternative molting programs are not welfare-neutral — they cause the nutritional stress necessary to trigger feather replacement. The welfare question for the industry is whether the economic benefit of extending productive life justifies the welfare cost of two molt cycles versus replacing hens after their first lay cycle.